The word Laconic?

Question

I was wondering what the three parts of the word 'Laconic' are. The prefix, Root word, and Suffix. I thought it was La con ic, but I can't seem to find the meaning of the prefix and suffix of La and Ic... help please?? lol

Answer 1

Although I agree with one response that the first English usage does in fact come from 1589, the root is from the Greek lakonicos. It came to English through Plutarch and Pliny the Elder in Latin.
The 1589 sentence was as follows: "To excuis me for this my laconike writing, I ame in suche haist." Amazing how spelling wasn't all that consistent or important to them.
The word means "affecting a brief style of speech, following the Laconian (Spartan) manner." It also applies to writing, for which the Spartans were also famous. Solon, the famous lawgiver, is a great example. It makes one wonder whether conversation around the dinner table wasn't a bit strained.

Answer 2

Laconic means not talkative or sullen. If you're a fan of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Oz is refered to as being Laconic often.

"The study of the classics allows one to understand the history of the term laconic, which comes to us via Latin from Greek Laknikos. The English word is first recorded in 1583 with the sense “of or relating to Laconia or its inhabitants.” Laknikos is derived from Lakn, “a Laconian, a person from Lacedaemon,” the name for the region of Greece of which Sparta was the capital. The Spartans, noted for being warlike and disciplined, were also known for the brevity of their speech, and it is this quality that English writers still denote by the use of the adjective laconic, which is first found in this sense in 1589."

Answer 3

la·con·ic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (l-knk)
adj.
Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise. See Synonyms at silent.


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[Latin Lacnicus, Spartan, from Greek Laknikos, from Lakn, a Spartan (from the reputation of the Spartans for brevity of speech).]
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la·coni·cal·ly adv.
Word History: The study of the classics allows one to understand the history of the term laconic, which comes to us via Latin from Greek Laknikos. The English word is first recorded in 1583 with the sense “of or relating to Laconia or its inhabitants.” Laknikos is derived from Lakn, “a Laconian, a person from Lacedaemon,” the name for the region of Greece of which Sparta was the capital. The Spartans, noted for being warlike and disciplined, were also known for the brevity of their speech, and it is this quality that English writers still denote by the use of the adjective laconic, which is first found in this sense in 1589.

Answer 4

Laconic is "Using few words". And it doesn't have a prefix. "lacon" is the root, and -ic is a prefix that makes adjectives (like: economic, from economics, pessimistic, from pessimism, and so on).

Answer 5

I'm just pulling this out of my butt, but it could be that the three different parts double up on letters. For example, "con" may be the middle part and "nic" may be the suffix.

On the other hand, it may not even be divided into three parts at all.

I would recommend checking out http://www.dictionary.com/